Lowrance experts How do I choose the right map W/HD GPS

[mamohr686]

One of my new purchases this spring is a lowrance LCX-38C HD unit with the built in hard drive from lowrance. It has lots of maps pre-loaded in it, but I also have a 07 lakemaster chip in the top slot. Under menu when I select map data I'm on the Inland lakes. When I try any other selection (there are 4 others) there is no data for MN. So my question is when I'm on a lake with 1 ft contours from lakemaster, how do I select it rather than the built in map? When I zero in on a lake such as Miltona or Ida near alex. I switch between the different lake map data selections under the menu with or without the chip and the lake contours do not change, or there are none at all (with or without the chip).

[LMITOUT]

In the Map Data menu, select "Lowrance" so that it loads the Lakemaster chip. You may have to cycle the power on the graph after making this change to get it to load, not sure on that though.

[gofishingtom]

when uasing your 38 you shouldnt have to choose the lakemaster chip in the map data..it should already be there and the black little chip symbol should blink on and off in the lwer right corner..i have the 27 and the 07 chip and the chip just overwrites the already map data that is preprogramed on unit..and i believe the 2 lakes you mentioned are only in 3 foot contours on the 07 chip so your unit might already have the data loaded on it and your chip wont give you anymore detail."Only the navionics north chip need to be rwad and programed on your unit by choosing and highlighting the area you want to see..Hope this helps..Just look on your unit when you power it up to see if the black chip is flasing in the lower right corner of your graph

[LMITOUT]

My X28 didn't recognize the chip until it was set to do so. I've heard that it's plug and play but not necessarily so.

[Central Bassman]

Almost all Lowrance units that i have used you have to select the Lowrance chip. It should make a load beep when you put the chip into the unit.

[mamohr686]

Thanks Lmitout, when I used the lowrance section under map data it loaded the lakemaster chip map. I noticed before that, when I would zoom up on a lake there was a white square box in the lower right corner indicating that it was reading off the hard-drive. When I switched to the lowrance section, it shows a chip in the corner when the map is loading.

Also, I wanted to ask you on your ranger 618T what model bait bucket goes in your front livewell? When I bought my 2004 model the previous owner never gave me the bucket (or mabie it doesn't come with one.

[LMITOUT]

Hey, no problem! I had the same dilemma when I fired up my X28 for the first time. I've been told it was plug-n-play but found out with my old X-15 that it isn't, and same was true with the X28.

I didn't get a bait bucket either and they are shipping them with the collapsible mesh bags now. Those are tough to take into the baitshop to buy minnows though. I did find a Frabil bucket at Walmart that does fit in that opening, but I'm not positive it's the "factory correct" version but it works. I've heard they don't make that model anymore so it may be tough to find one. I can take a picture of mine so you can get an idea of what size/style it is.

[RiverBassGuy]

The X28c, X38c, and X113c require you to choose the "Lowrance" setting under the map data tab in the menu setting. They have a Hardrive with other pre-loaded data, thus this is required. On non hardrive units (520,522,27,37,112) you shouldn't have to select the "Lowrance" setting because it is already defaulted to that setting. As LMITOUT clearly stated, this should fix the problem!